by Oge Okonkwo

Three Nigerian journalists, Olatunde Ojenike, Adolphus Okonkwo, Kafayat Odunsi  have been killed and ten others sustained injuries in a car crash which occurred in Ilesha, Osun state, south-west Nigeria . The deceased and injured journalists  were returning to their bases from a national assignment of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which held in Abuja on Thursday.

Olatunde was a staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan, Adolphus a staff of Champion Newspapers, and Kafayat a staff  of Nigeria Television Authority.

Among the ten injured persons are the chairmen of Oyo and Lagos state councils of NUJ, Gbenga Opadokun and Deji Elumoye respectively as well as Fatimah Abdulkareem, the National Treasurer and are currently receiving treatment at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

Channels TV reports:

The National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Shuibu Leman, said: “it was a sad moment for the union and the nation as a whole.’’ Leman said officials of the union were on their way to Osun to assess the situation. The Chairman of NUJ, Abuja Council, Mr Chucks Ehirim, said, “it was indeed a great shock as the three late journalists were very alive and active on Thursday at a meeting of the union. “We are all shocked by the incident.

They were our colleagues and we were all together in the meeting till late on Thursday. It is unfortunate because they died in union activities.’’

Condolences Pour In 

Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun has offered to pay the medical bills of 10 journalists injured in the accident. near Ilesha, incidentally, the governor’s hometown.

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has described the fatal accident involving officials of as “lamentable”.

Amosun said he was shocked and saddened by the news of the accident, which resulted in the death of three officers and injuries to others.

In a press release by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Amosun commiserated with families of the victims and media community in Nigeria.

The governor prayed to God to grant the injured speedy recovery and the deceased eternal rest.

In the same vein, Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed has described as unfortunate, shocking and  devastating the death of the journalists.

Governor Ahmed , in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press  Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said the death of the journalists  while pursuing enhanced welfare of their colleagues has yet denied  Nigeria the services of  the vibrant Nigerians who could have made  meaningful contributions to the national process of promoting freedom of speech and democratic values in the country through the pen.

He Ahmed noted that the death of the journalists has again brought to the  front burner the issue of insurance policies for working journalists in  view of the hazardous nature of their vocation.

He urged employers of journalists, whether in the private or public  sector, to wholeheartedly embrace journalists insurance culture , just  as his administration has done for all working journalists in the state, irrespective of their employers.

“It was in recognition of the place of journalists in national development  that my administration paid the insurance premium of all journalists  working in the state irrespective of their states of origin or the  nature of their employment.” the governor said.

Gov. Ahmed prayed God to give the family and the journalists’ fraternity the fortitude to bear the painful loss.

Furthermore, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has expressed shock at the death of three officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The Governor, in his condolence message on Saturday, described the death of the journalists  as a “big tragedy which cut short the lives of patriots who were on active service to their fatherland”.

Dr. Fayemi said the untimely death of the NUJ chiefs has cast a thick pall of mourning on the media and all lovers of vibrant journalism and free press which contributed immensely to the democracy being enjoyed in the country.

He prayed God to grant the families of the deceased the fortitude and courage to bear the great and monumental loss of their loved ones.

The Governor bemoaned the fact that this incident has robbed the nation of committed, hardworking, articulate and sound media professionals whose experience would be needed in the evolution of a greater nation all Nigerians envisage.

He regretted that the death of the journalists occurred at a time the nation was yet to recover from the demise of media icon, Alhaji Alade Odunewu who passed on few days ago.

The Governor urged journalists in the country not to allow the tragedy to dampen their morale in the discharge of their onerous duties of informing and educating the populace.

Governor  Fayemi also used the opportunity the call on the concerned authorities to ensure good insurance package for journalists in view of the hazards associated with the media profession.

He said, ”The media profession is very risky and full of hazards hence the need for solid insurance package for journalists in the country.

“On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State I commiserate with the families, friends and associates of the deceased and may we not witness this kind of tragedy again”.

The Osun Chairman of NUJ, Mr Abiodun Olalere said the survivors were in stable conditions.